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. 2012:1:67.
doi: 10.4103/2277-9175.102971. Epub 2012 Oct 31.

A comparative study of complications of cataract surgery with phacoemulsification in eyes with high and normal axial length

Hamid Fesharaki  1 , Alireza Peyman, Mehdi Rowshandel, Mohammadreza Peyman, Pegah Alizadeh, Mohammadreza Akhlaghi, Alireza Ashtari
Affiliations

A comparative study of complications of cataract surgery with phacoemulsification in eyes with high and normal axial length

Hamid Fesharaki et al. Adv Biomed Res. 2012.

Abstract

Background: This study performed to assess the safety of cataract extraction with phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in patients with high axial length compared with patients with normal axial length.

Materials and methods: A total of 866 eyes were enrolled in this study; all subjects underwent phacoemulsification and IOL implantation for treatment of cataract. Seven hundred and nine eyes fell in the normal group with axial lengths ranging between 21 and 24.5 mm, and 157 eyes were considered myopic with axial length equal or greater than 26 mm. The two groups were compared regarding intraoperative surgical complications, such as vitreous loss, posterior capsular rupture, nucleolus drop, and undesirable implantation of IOL in the anterior chamber.

Results: Age was a risk factor in both groups, with each year increase of age, the chance of incidence of intraoperative complications increased 1.04-folds (P = 0.03). And with 1 mm increase in axial length, the incidence of complications raised 1.22-folds (P = 0.007). There was no significant correlation between axial length and incidence of vitreous loss, although the incidence of posterior capsular rupture and nucleus fragment drops increased with increment in the axial length. Sex of the patients and side of the left or right eye were not found to be significant risk factors.

Conclusions: As the results illustrate, in this survey, age and high axial length were statistically significant risk factors for incidence of intraoperative complications of cataract surgery with phacoemulsification technique. Anticipation of these complications and also preparation and prophylactic measures may decrease incidence of these complications.

Keywords: Age; axial length; cataract; myopia; phacoemulsification.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Intraoperative complication rate (%) in different age groups
Figure 2
Figure 2
Posterior capsular tear (%) with different axial lengths
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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